For the members of the Lakota East Z Club, the domino is the perfect symbol of the actions they are both trying to promote and trying to curtail.

“It’s to remind us all that our actions affect others,” explained Z Club vice president Sarah King. “If you are mean or unkind to someone, those actions can affect them and the way that person acts towards other people. But the opposite can be true too. If you are caring and understanding, that can carry out too.”

Nineteen students at Lakota East High School have formed the Z Club, a junior version of the Zonta Club an international philanthropic organization for professional women with chapters around the country, including in Cincinnati. The Zonta Club was first founded in 1919 as a response to organizations that did not allow women members and included famed Aviator Amelia Earhart as an early member.

“I feel like the Z Club really brings a lot of very different people together and has allowed us to get to know each other and see everybody’s life in a different way,” said Z Club President Danielle Lewis, a junior at Lakota East. “There are a lot of people you see in the hallway and they look like they are living a perfect life, but once you get to know them you realize they have many of the same troubles you do. It makes you feel not as alone.”

For the Z Club’s first project, the members are working on a program to address bullying and encourage more positive interactions among teenage girls at the school and the community. They organization is not only shooting a video to address the issue, but will be hosting forums and assemblies for teenage girls at several schools in the Lakota School District.

“It’s not just an anti-bullying video,” said the group’s advisor, school counselor Jill Kelechi. “It’s about creating a dialogue among girls and giving them the tools to act appropriately.”

Kelechi founded the organization after being approached by members of Cincinnati’s Zonta Club. She reached out to social studies teacher to find students who were very civic minded.

“We’ve got a really great mix of students who challenge each other and the adults,” Kelechi said. “It’s been a very positive experience for all of us and I believe it will continue to be that.”

Each meeting of the Z Club is also attended by one or more members of the adult Zonta Club.

“They’ve all been really nice and supportive,” said Josie Halozan, the club’s secretary and a senior at Lakota East. “I had never heard of the organization before and now it’s something I definitely want to be a part of when I grow up.”

Lewis said she hopes the group will be able to continue into the future.

“I feel like we’re creating a new way for people to get involved and have a real impact on the community,” Lewis said. “I will be a senior here next year and Sarah will be a junior and we want to keep this group going and hopefully grow some.”